Plane Crash in Gallup - New Mexico DPS

State of New Mexico
Department of Public Safety
July 19, 2010 Contact: Peter Olson
(505) 827-3361
Plane Crash in Gallup
Gallup—A small aircraft crashed near the Gallup high school early this afternoon. The
single engine aircraft crashed in a vacant field south of Rico Street. Pilot Rudolph
Kaiser, 67, and his wife were flying west to Flagstaff when he attempted to land for fuel
at the Gallup airport. He was concerned about the length of the runway so he tried a
maneuver called a touch and go to gauge his ability to take off after re-fueling.
He was not able to get enough airspeed or elevation after touching down on the runway.
He did manage to get up in the air and clear residential and commercial buildings but he
was losing air speed.
he then tried to land in a vacant field about 2 miles from the airport. A wingtip hit the
ground causing the plane to cart-wheel, destroying the aircraft and causing serious
injuries to both people.
Deborah Kaiser, 66, was flown from Rehoboth McKinley Hospital to the University of
New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. Rudolph is being treated for his injuries at
Rehoboth McKinley Hospital in Gallup.
State Police and emergency response personnel were called to the scene just after
12:30 pm on Monday July 19th.
The Kaisers are from Vista, California.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have
been notified and further investigating the cause of this crash.
###